A House On Fire (Week 3) - The Thermostat
Sermon Summary:
This week in our series "A House On Fire", we continue to explore the parable that Jesus introduced in the Sermon on the Mount when He compared our lives and how we live to a house. This week uses the metaphor of a thermostat/smart home hub as a means of highlighting the primary, but not sole, responsibility of women to lead in creating, establishing, and regulating a healthy emotional and spiritual environment within themselves and the lives of those in their families. Roles and responsibilities are not singularly exclusive to men or women but are mutually shared by men and women, with each being given a primary area of focus/responsibility by God in creation. Women are called to reflect God's "likeness" (His characteristics, what He's like) and lead their families in growing in and living out the "likeness of God" in their own lives through compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice. Ultimately, the goal is for men and women to co-rule equally and in doing so, together reflect God's image and likeness in a way that demonstrates His love and righteousness to the world around them.
Scripture:
Matthew 4:17, Titus 2:2-8, Genesis 1:26-27, Exodus 34:5-7, Proverbs 4:5-9, Proverbs 31:10-31
Discussion Questions:
How do women act like thermostats/smart home hubs in regulating the emotional and spiritual environment of their homes?
In the sermon, Brad described women as being like thermostats/smart home hubs who can create and regulate a stable, healthy, and livable atmosphere within their families.
In what ways have you seen women in your life act as thermostats/smart home hubs, and how can you contribute to maintaining a healthy environment in your home?
Why is it important for husbands to support and respect their wives' authority in establishing the home environment?
The sermon emphasized that men should honor their wives' roles in creating the atmosphere of their homes by voluntarily and joyfully responding to the wife/woman's call and challenge to grow in the qualities that reflect the likeness of God in their own lives.
How can you demonstrate support and respect for the women in your life and recognize their impact on your home and family life?
How can women grow in their reflection of God's likeness, and why is this important for families?
According to the sermon, women are called to embody the likeness of God and encourage their families to do the same through their leadership.
What steps can you take to help create an environment that encourages growth in reflecting God's likeness (Compassion, Grace, Patience, Faithfulness, Love, Forgiveness, Justice), both for yourself and for others in your family?
What qualities should older women pass on to others, as described in Titus 2:2-8?
In the sermon, it was mentioned that Titus 2:2-8 calls on older women to teach and train younger women to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, and kind.
How can you seek guidance from older women in your life who embody these qualities, or, if you are an older woman, how can you mentor younger people to develop these characteristics?
How do the characteristics and roles of men and women complement each other in creating a harmonious household?
The sermon series discussed how men are like the front door, primarily but not solely, responsible for protecting and providing for their families, while women are like thermostats who, primarily but not solely, regulate the environment of their homes.
What areas can you improve upon in performing your primary role in your family, and how can you collaborate with others to create a sense of unity and shared responsibility?
